Roads

Norwich Township Roads Department is responsible for maintaining the roads within the unincorporated areas of Norwich Township. Norwich Township partners with other townships, Franklin County and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District to meet the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Phase II Storm Water Program.

What Affects Water Quality?

We sometimes take water for granted. But this precious resource may become increasingly scarce as we place more demands on fresh water supplies. An abundant and constant supply of high quality water is necessary in maintaining high levels of living standards.

Our future is based on our ability to maintain and improve the quality of the water that we use. To ensure future water supplies, we need to learn about water resource, and plan to use them carefully.

Pollution comes from a variety of point and non-point sources. Point source pollution comes from industrial plants, municipal treatment plants and other sources that dump water into a stream from a confined pipe. Water released from these sources must meet US EPA requirements. Over the years the quality of point source release has greatly improved. However, non-point source pollution is just beginning to be addressed.

Non-point source pollution includes urban storm water run-off, run-off from fields and forests, illegal dumping, and improperly disposing of household and yard wastes. Storm drains, commonly called storm sewers, line our streets in urban settings. Their purpose is to take the water off the roads during a heavy storm and keep the roads safe for travel by preventing flooded streets. These storm drains are piped to our closest creeks and rivers. As a result, anything in the road, sidewalk, or your driveway that is swept into the storm drain is carried directly to our waterways. This generally includes oil from cars and trucks, salt from treating the roads in the winter, soap from washing our cars, fertilizers and pesticides from our lawns, pet waste and litter.

Expanding suburban housing adds to the amount of hazardous substances entering the waterways. Most hazardous wastes do not bio-degrade. They accumulate as they wash off the land surface or enter the storm drains in the neighborhoods.

Each of us should take a moment to think of how our outdoor activities affect our streams. If you change just one thing for the betterment of the streams and all your neighbors do the same, just think of what we can accomplish.